Here’s a quick guide to public transit options for some Independence Day events throughout the Bay Area today. Much of this will help you avoid drunk driving, parking hassles, and traffic gridlock to and from the festivities.

Lots of events are happening this Mother’s Day weekend in Silicon Valley. From a big concert at Levi’s Stadium, to a major mixed martial arts fight card, to two street festivals, to San Jose Giants baseball. This guide will give you the public transit options you need to help you beat the expected parking and traffic gridlock hassles.

The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Chair will see some of his managers this week.San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo – also VTA Board Chair this year – will be our guest at our group’s upcoming meeting this Thursday in San Jose.

TIME/DATE: Thursday, April 26 at 6pmPLACE: San Jose Peace & Justice Center, 48 S. 7th Street (between Santa Clara and San Fernando Streets), San JoseGETTING THERE: Many VTA bus lines like the 22, 522 Rapid, 72, 73 and Highway 17 Express stop near the Peace and Justice Center. There is limited bicycle and automobile parking behind the building, so it’s advisable to take public transit to and from the building. There is also wheelchair access behind the building.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wants to repeat failed history. In his first Chairperson’s Report at the January 4 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Of Directors’ meeting, he advocated for further reductions in VTA transit service to help close a $20 million operating deficit this fiscal year, and a $26 million operating deficit in 2019. He announced the formation of a committee to address VTA’s structural operating deficit, and provide solutions. The gist of Mayor Liccardo’s comments start at the 2:00 mark of the audio clip above.

Learn more about how this service cut strategy fails to resolve any VTA operating deficit – and what YOU can proactively do to change history in your favor – below.

The last Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board Of Directors’ meeting of 2017 took place on December 7. There, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was voted unopposed as the VTA Board Of Directors’ Chair for 2018. Also, Santa Clara City Councilmember Teresa O’Neill was voted 9-2 over Cupertino’s Sadia Vaidhyanathan for Vice Chair in 2018.

You can view all four hours of the last VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting of 2017 here. Or, read on for a summary of what was decided at this VTA Board Of Directors’ meeting.